American in Scotland

[cessna152towser]

Unlike Jock I do wear different tartans but only ones with which I have some connection so if I am ever asked about the tartan there is always a story to tell.

[Phil]

Wearing the kilt is not looked upon as anything exceptional here and, in fact, most Scots seeing you kilted would think they should have worn theirs too. As others have said, kilt-wearing is not usual here in Scotland but it is certainly not regarded as anything but normal if you do. There was a very interesting TV programme "Scotland on Film" shown here last night and it was archive footage from the 1950's I think, all about the Highlands and Islands. It was excellent but there was one item totally absent from all these Highlanders and Islanders - not one single, solitary KILT. As Jock says, stick to tartan though as attitudes here about "men in skirts" can be a bit ambivalent and not always as "politically correct" as elsewhere, particularly in certain areas.

[Jimmy]

I watched the last few minutes of Scotland on Film, tough live in the islands a few years ago, particularly when it is only in recent years electricity has been brought in.
You mentioned that there was no sign of anyone kilted, that was true, but do you not agree that in Scotland in the last 20 years there has been a resurgence in the number of kilt wearers. Probably over this weekend I will be in Glasgow City Centre and it will be a surprise if I do not see a few kilties about. The kilt certainly is getting more popular just to wear when you go out on some occassion that may not be remotely formal.
Towards the end of last month the number of kilties throughout Scotland must have been a record number, people who have never worn a kilt were kilted up for the ever increasing Burns Nights.
It can be argued that the more economical kilts have encouraged a greater number of people to get kilted. Until the advent of the cheaper kilt wering a kilt was an expensive habit.

[Phil]

I do agree that kilt-wearing is very much more popular now than even just 20 years ago. It probably has a lot to do with the hated poll-tax etc. and the wish to show our national identity. I was really trying to highlight the sort of misconceptions that are about such as that all highlanders wear kilts when, in fact, few if any of them can afford a kilt, then or now. There was a thread recently "Highlanders v. Lowlanders" reinforcing such misconceptions about Scotland and I do feel that visitors come here and feel somehow cheated when they find hardly anyone actually wears the kilt.
I haven't been to a Burns supper for a number of years now but the only one kilted that I remember was the piper piping in the haggis. That is good that more people now go kilted but it is not traditional to do so.

[freddie]

I think the kilt is worn more now in Scotland (other than formal events) than it was say up to thirty years ago, certainly by the younger guys anyway. I well remember my Mother quoting an old Edinburgh saying "If you see someone in a kilt along Princess Street it'll be a Yank" This comment alluded to a wealthy American tourist at a time when most ordinary Scots (my Mother came from a working class background where money was very tight) just couldn't afford a kilt. In fact none of my Scottish relatives ever wore a kilt, or even had the desire to do so, even the ones who wore it in the army never wore it in civilian life. In fact when we went up a few years ago our relatives were taking us out to dinner and my cousin, who knew I liked to wear the kilt, said "I hope you're not going to show us up by wearing your kilt". No, if you go to Scotland don't expect to see everyone running around in kilts, unfortunately it just doesn't happen.

[ThistleDown]

I suppose I have to add my 2p, since I live about half the year in Western Canada and the other half at Inverness -- and I have been wearing a kilt almost daily for many, many years in both places. There are some in Scotland who will object to those from outside wearing Scottish National Dress, but they are few and far between. If you wear it well, as Phil said, most will wish they were wearing it, too. It used to be said that if you spotted a kilt it was Sunday or the one wearing it was a Highland outfitter on his tea break. That's no longer true and, in the Highlands at least, there are many more worn daily than there were years ago -- it is nice to have their company. The key to blending in and being accepted is how you wear the kilt itself, but far more importantly, what you wear with it.

[Riverkilt]

Jock's comment is interesting.

I live in a tourist town and most of our visitors are from other countries. One of the most remarkable things to me has been how many folks from Scotland have stopped me, even chased me down, to find out more about my Utilitkilts. If I'm wearing a tartan kilt they may stop me and ask me if I'm Scottish, be friendly. When I'm wearing a Utilikilt the Scottish tourists fire question after question at me wanting to know more - all positive. Have never had a negative remark made about a Utilikilt by a Scottish tourist.

So, go figure....

Ron

[Redshank]

Ron ................ that'll be the Scottish sense of humour then lol

[Nighthawk]

Ron ................ that'll be the Scottish sense of humour then lol

What do you call a man wearing a modern solid color kilt?




Wait for it...




Wait for it...




A Clansvestite!

I know, I know... but what are gonna do with me?

[Bugbear]

It seems like for the first few months after joining X Marks, the number of times I wore the kilt went up quite a bit. Practice maybe...? I'm not counting the times I wore my pleated, canvas man skirt.

Then it dropped way off as I figured out I didn't quite have the right accessories and was doing all kinds of things wrong. I think I have fixed most of those issues, and even found my tartan etc, but I almost don't wear the kilt anymore...

Strange...